Latching means for staple supporting slides



G. J. RUNDBLAD LATCHING MEANS FOR STAPLE SUPPORTING SLIDES June 3, 1952Filed June 6, 1950 Patented June 3, 1952 sTAT LATCHING MEANS, FOR STAPLESUPPORTING snmns George'J. Rundblad, El nwood Park, Ill.,assignor toWilson-Jones Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Massachusetts i pApplication June 6, 1950, Serial No. 166,323

Claims. (01. 1-3) This invention relates to latching means for staplesupporting slides in stapling machines, and has particular reference toa flexible compensator for the latch which secures the staple slide inposition in the stapling machine.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a simple andinexpensive flexible compensator that will impart sufficient flexibilityof adjustment to the latch to permit a secure fit without excessive wearon the ears of the latch or the base casting adjacent the recesses inwhich the ears fit. The flexible compensator is particularly designedfor use with a staple slide of the type disclosed in the application ofHerbert W. Marano filed July 7, 1949, under Serial No. 103,420, but maybe used with any similar slide. With slides of this type it has beenfound that either because of the hinge curl on the latch, or because ofirregularities in the castings from which the base of the staplingmachine is made, the ears of the latch do not always fit properly intothe recesses of the base portion. The result is that the ears of thelatch are forced into position and are either distorted or the recess isnicked. If the ears of the latch are distorted it is diflicult to securethe latch in position, and if the casting becomes worn the latch may nothold the slide securely.

Other objects of the invention will become apparent upon reading thefollowing description,

taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a stapling machine in which theinvention is embodied, with the body portion swung around its pivot toshow the latch and flexible compensator relative to the staplingmachine;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the rear portionof the stapling machine body showing the flexible compensator inposition relative to the staple slide;

Referring to the drawing, the stapling machine comprises a base portion2 and a body portion 3 hinged thereto, as indicatedat 4: -A stapleslide5 is mounted in the body portion in any suitable manner. The top wall 6of the staple slide is provided with a loop I which is preferably struckout therefrom, but may be formed as a separate strap and welded orriveted thereto.

The flexible compensator, which replaces the conventional rear end wallof the staple slide, comprises a resilient strip bent at right angles toform a rear wall 8 and a fiat top 9. The flat top 9 is provided with aforwardly extending tongue I0 adapted to be inserted between the loop orstrap 1 and the top wall of the staple slide. The tongue H) has arestricted portion H and the loop I is indented, as indicated at l2,after the tongue has been inserted between it and the top wall 6, tohold the flexible compensator securely in place. The wall 8 is providedwith an aperture I3 to receive the guide rod I4 of the staple slide, anda slot 15 to receive the curl I6 of a latch I! to pivotally secure thelatch to the flexible compensator.

The lower edge of body portion 3 is provided with a pair of recesses 18designed to receive the ears IQ of the latch to hold the staple slide inthe body portion of the stapling machine. If the hinge curl I6 is tootight or too loose, or if the ears l9 do not flt properly into therecesses l8 for any other reason, the resilience of the flexiblecompensator permits flexing of the wall 8 to an extent suflicient tomake the ears 19 engage the recesses |8 with the proper friction so thatthe slide is held in place. This resilience also facilitates thedisengagement of the ears [9 from the recesses whenever it is necessaryto remove the staple slide for any purpose.

Although I have described a preferred embodiment of my invention inconsiderable detail, it will be understood that the description thereofis intended to be illustrative, rather than restrictive, as many detailsmay be modified or changed without departing from the invention.Accordingly, I do not desire to be restricted to the exact structuredescribed, except as limited by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a stapling machine, a body portion, a staple slide, a flexiblecompensator secured adjacent the rear end of said staple slide, and alatch pivotally secured to said flexible compensator, said latch beingengageable with said body portion to secure said staple slide on saidbody portion.

2. In a stapling machine, a staple slide, a

latch for holding said staple slide in predeteh V mined position in saidstapling machine, and a resilient member secured to one end of saidstaple slide, said latch being pivotally secured to said resilientmember.

3. In a stapling machine, a body portion provided with a pair ofrecesses, a staple slide positioned iitisafifiddyziportion, a flexiblecomperF sator 5mm! --acfiacent one end ofs'aid staple slide, a latchsecured to said compensator, said latch being engageable with saidrecesses to hold said staple slide in said stapling machine.

4. In a stapling machine, a body porfibmpmvided with a pair of recesses,a staple slide positioned in said body portiomraspring dampen satorhaving a tongue rigidly seem-recto end of said staple slide and a rearwall positionecf' adjacent said end of the stapleslide and'a latchsecured to said rear wall, said latch having a pair of ears engageablewith said recessesto hold said staple slide imsaid body portion.

115%: matstaplingi: machintwa: body-portion haw iize'g'aazpaiirotirecessesg in: its loweredge, a staple said body portion of thestapling machine.

GEORGE J. RUNDBLAD.

REFERENCES CITED 'l lid'foilowing-iefeiences are of record in the tile"patent;

fififififi STATES PATENTS Niiiiibei Name Date P25223322 Kilbride Nov.26, 1940 20 2,345,267 Keil Mar. 28, 1944 Lang acre-gente l Oct. 8, 1946

